There are various ways to give back to the community and one of the best is by giving the gift of your time. Take a look at some of the following volunteer opportunities and see if you can find a way to squeeze some extra time out of your busy schedule in 2017 to help those in need.

Help save Madison’s pets

If helping animals is something near and dear to your heart, consider lending a hand at one of the many rescue organizations in and around Madison.

Shelter from the Storm – An all-breed dog and cat rescue, Shelter from the Storm is based in Madison. Aside from pet rescue, the group offers a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. The shelter, open only by appointment, only houses some of the animals, while foster families have the rest. Check

Even if you aren’t house hunting, it’s fun to take a look at what is most popular on the current market, how home prices are faring and to take a peek inside other people’s homes. We’ve rounded up the three listings that are receiving the most attention on our website this week and, yes, two of them are condos but the third is a very interesting historic home in Hill Farms.

Canal Place Condo

The most popular home on the market in Madison this week is this garden-style condo located in Canal Place. Sure, the price ($239,900) accounts for some of this home’s popularity but so do the low association dues ($115 a month), the updated bathroom and kitchen and the new windows and carpeting.

It’s about that time of year when experts in the various segments of the economy release their predictions for the coming year and Realtor.com’s is getting the lion’s share of the attention. Arguably, the Realtor.com® 2017 National Housing Forecast looks very much like their 2016 predictions, with the exception of some good news for the Madison, WI real estate market.

Expect your buyer to be either a Millennial or a Boomer

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been touting their expected onslaught of Millennial homebuyers, despite other, negative economic indicators for this generation. The folks with the money, Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are largely responsible for the housing market recovery in several regions of the country,